Buy the Audiobook Download:

About Cork Boat

165,321 corks1 boat

Most people have childhood dreams; few ever pursue them. At the age of 34, John Pollack quit a prestigious speechwriting job on Capitol Hill to pursue an idea he had harbored since the age of six: to build a boat out of wine corks and take it on an epic journey.

In Cork Boat, Pollack tells the charming and uplifting story of this unlikely adventure. Overcoming one obstacle after another, he convinces skeptical bartenders to save corks, corrals a brilliant but disorganized partner, and cajoles more than a hundred volunteers to help build the boat, many until their fingers bleed. Hired as a speechwriter for President Clinton midway through construction, Pollack soon has the White House saving corks, too. Ultimately, he and his crew set sail down the Douro River in Portugal, where the boat becomes a national sensation. Written with unusual grace and disarming humor, Cork Boat is a buoyant tale of camaraderie, determination, and the power of imagination.

About Cork Boat

165,321 corks1 boat

Most people have childhood dreams; few ever pursue them. At the age of 34, John Pollack quit a prestigious speechwriting job on Capitol Hill to pursue an idea he had harbored since the age of six: to build a boat out of wine corks and take it on an epic journey.

In Cork Boat, Pollack tells the charming and uplifting story of this unlikely adventure. Overcoming one obstacle after another, he convinces skeptical bartenders to save corks, corrals a brilliant but disorganized partner, and cajoles more than a hundred volunteers to help build the boat, many until their fingers bleed. Hired as a speechwriter for President Clinton midway through construction, Pollack soon has the White House saving corks, too. Ultimately, he and his crew set sail down the Douro River in Portugal, where the boat becomes a national sensation. Written with unusual grace and disarming humor, Cork Boat is a buoyant tale of camaraderie, determination, and the power of imagination.

About Cork Boat

In the late 1990s John Pollack was working as a Washington speechwriter when, frustrated by the cynicism and hypocrisy on Capitol Hill, he quit his job to pursue a boyhood dream: to build a boat made entirely of wine corks and take it on an epic journey.

Cork Boat tells the story of Pollack’s improbable quest. Overcoming one obstacle after another, he convinces skeptical bartenders to save their corks, corrals a brilliant but disorganized partner, and eventually cajoles more than one hundred volunteers who help build the boat until their fingers bleed. Ultimately, Pollack completes his vessel of 165,321 corks and sets sail on a fantastic voyage down the Douro River in Portugal, where the Cork Boat becomes a national sensation.

In recounting these adventures, Pollack skillfully meanders through fascinating arcana, from the cork wars to the history of rubber bands (some 15,000 of which help hold his boat together). He also offers an insider’s look at the White House, where he was a Presidential speechwriter and enlisted navy stewards to save corks for the boat.

Written with unusual grace and disarming humor, Cork Boat is a buoyant tale of whimsy, adventure, and the power of imagination.

About Cork Boat

In the late 1990s John Pollack was working as a Washington speechwriter when, frustrated by the cynicism and hypocrisy on Capitol Hill, he quit his job to pursue a boyhood dream: to build a boat made entirely of wine corks and take it on an epic journey.

Cork Boat tells the story of Pollack’s improbable quest. Overcoming one obstacle after another, he convinces skeptical bartenders to save their corks, corrals a brilliant but disorganized partner, and eventually cajoles more than one hundred volunteers who help build the boat until their fingers bleed. Ultimately, Pollack completes his vessel of 165,321 corks and sets sail on a fantastic voyage down the Douro River in Portugal, where the Cork Boat becomes a national sensation.

In recounting these adventures, Pollack skillfully meanders through fascinating arcana, from the cork wars to the history of rubber bands (some 15,000 of which help hold his boat together). He also offers an insider’s look at the White House, where he was a Presidential speechwriter and enlisted navy stewards to save corks for the boat.

Written with unusual grace and disarming humor, Cork Boat is a buoyant tale of whimsy, adventure, and the power of imagination.

About John Pollack

John Pollack is a speechwriter at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Prior to this, he worked as a foreign correspondent, at a history museum, and as a strolling violinist. In 1995, Pollack won the eighteenth annual O. Henry… More about John Pollack

About John Pollack

John Pollack is a speechwriter at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Prior to this, he worked as a foreign correspondent, at a history museum, and as a strolling violinist. In 1995, Pollack won the eighteenth annual O. Henry… More about John Pollack

About John Pollack

John Pollack is a speechwriter at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Prior to this, he worked as a foreign correspondent, at a history museum, and as a strolling violinist. In 1995, Pollack won the eighteenth annual O. Henry… More about John Pollack

About John Pollack

John Pollack is a speechwriter at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Prior to this, he worked as a foreign correspondent, at a history museum, and as a strolling violinist. In 1995, Pollack won the eighteenth annual O. Henry… More about John Pollack

“Compelling. . . . Pollack is so likable that it’s hard not to root for him. . . . After reading this book, you might never look at a cork–or a pipe dream–in quite the dame way again.” –San Antonio Express-News

“Written in a style of singular grace and impact. . . . The example of John Pollack imagining and fashioning this object of rare, if bizarre beauty, is worthy of warmest admiration.” –Washington Times

“This buoyant nonfiction adventure saga is bound to float any armchair adventurer right out of the winter doldrums.” –Boston Herald

“A Quixotic tale that made me chuckle–and brought a lump to my throat.” –Witold Rybczynski, author of Home

“What can be more fun than a childhood fantasy realized and beautifully told? An absolute delight for sailors; for landspeople; for people like ourselves who delight in the simple, noble, and amusing cork, often the best part of the wine.” –David and Daniel Hays, authors of My Old Man and the Sea

“[Pollack’s] breezy writing and witty asides go well with a comfy armchair and a bottle of wine.” —Washingtonian“Hard to resist.” –Arizona Republic

Awards

School Library Journal Adult Books for Young AdultsWINNER

Author Essay

Why I Wrote the Bookfrom John PollackIn 1999 I was working as a Washington speechwriter when, frustrated by the cynicism and hypocrisy of Congress, I quit my job to pursue a whimsical ambition that I had been harboring since the age of six – to build a boat made entirely of wine corks, and to take it on an epic journey. That was easier said than done. But over the next two years I convinced dozens of skeptical bartenders and waiters to save corks for the boat (supplementing those I had been saving for nearly three decades), struggled with a brilliant yet challenging partner to overcome serious design hurdles, and eventually cajoled more than 100 volunteers to help build the boat itself.In 2002, we completed this vessel of 165,321 corks, shipped it to Portugal and spent 17 days sailing and rowing down the Douro River, where the Cork Boat became a national sensation. The whole adventure was so improbable yet so colorful that, upon my return to the United States, I felt compelled to write the story.The result is Cork Boat.